After breakfast the next day, Chen Afu began to prepare.
In this dynasty, when a couple got married, they would have lunch at the bride's house, and dinner at the groom's house. Some guests would go to the groom's house in the afternoon, and the groom would take the bride to his home in the afternoon.
Because Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu and his wife had a special relationship with the Fu family, they would go early to show their support. In the morning, they would look at the dowry, at noon, they would have a banquet, in the afternoon, they would watch the party and the bride, and in the evening, they would have a wedding banquet. The whole day was packed.
Chen Afu didn't like to be in the limelight, and she didn't like to make friends with noble ladies. But as Chu Lingxuan's wife, she had to fit in with that circle, even if she didn't like it. She knew that many people in the aristocratic circle liked to talk about her dual identities as an "illegitimate daughter" and a "country girl". This was her first time to attend a social event in public, so she had to dress up beautifully to shut up those people.
But when she saw her round face and big belly in the mirror, she realized that the "pure and elegant" look she wanted most was no longer possible.
At this time, you can't wear a long jacket or a short jacket, because it will make your belly look bigger and you look fatter. She searched the closet for a while, but still only had the dress she prepared yesterday.
She wore a short double-breasted jacket with a smoky pink satin pattern that just reached below her belly, and a long red jacquard skirt. She also wore a translucent light-colored scarf to cover her belly.
She wore a large gold-thread flying phoenix hairpin inlaid with pearls in the middle of her head, with a small jade crabapple pearl flower hairpin on each side. She also wore a jade headband and a pair of emerald green jade bracelets on her wrists.
This time the makeup caters to the aesthetic of this era and is relatively heavy and gaudy.
Although this body was only seventeen years old, she looked more mature than her actual age because of her pregnancy. She was already beautiful, and this kind of dress made her look elegant and simple, as gorgeous as a crabapple blossom blooming in the spring sun.
The dress has been fumigated with green leaf agarwood overnight, the fragrance is light, beautiful and long-lasting. Although it is the end of summer now, the weather is still quite hot. This fragrance surrounds me, making me feel refreshed.
At the same time, today is also the time to "clear the name" for Miss Chu. Chu Hanyan, the eldest daughter of Chu Lingxuan, the prince of Yong'an Marquis's mansion, is smart, gentle, demure, and lovable. She is not the "crazy girl" that others say she is.
Mother Song brought her clothes to the main courtyard for her to wear.
The little girl was wearing a light purple silk short jacket with a cross collar, a water blue soft satin long skirt with a wide hem, a belt tied around her chest, and a purple bow. Only a few green-calyx plum blossoms were embroidered on the collar and cuffs. The style was simple, unique, and beautiful.
Then, she was given a Ruyi Rabbit bag. The whole bag was a rabbit head, with long ears, round eyes, a three-petal red mouth, and a bow on one ear. The bag contained a few candies and a handkerchief.
This is the series of dolls and bags designed by Chen Afu for Nishang Embroidery Workshop. While providing decoration for little girls, it also allows them to advertise in the upper class society.
A small jade fan-shaped hairpin and a few small pearl flowers were inserted on Bao Bao's head.
Finally, Chen Afu put a little rouge on the girl's eyebrows.
After dressing up, the little girl looked in the mirror and was extremely beautiful. She bit her lips again and asked softly, "Mother, is it because I bit my lips that they look as red as if I had put on rouge?"
The beauty-loving little girl wanted to put on rouge, but her mother wouldn't let her. She seemed to have heard from a girl that if you bite your lips, your lips will turn red, so she thought about biting her lips.
Chen Ahfu smiled and said, "Oh, my daughter knows how to be beautiful. Biting your lips can indeed make them redder, but it's best not to bite them. It's easy to damage your lips, and the way you bite your lips doesn't look good. If someone sees you, you'll look so ugly. Yan'er is already very, very beautiful, and there's no need to make her lips red anymore."
After hearing this, the little girl stopped thinking about her lips.
Chu Lingxuan was extremely satisfied when he saw this mother and daughter pair.
At the hour of Si, Chu Lingxuan, Chen Afu and Chu Hanyan set off.
Xiao Lixuan took the animal home to the lake for boating, so no one chased him. Dabao knew that they were going to a wedding banquet today, but he knew that studying was more important than a wedding banquet, so even though he wanted to go very much, he didn't ask for it.
When they arrived at the general's residence, Chu Lingxuan and his attendants who were carrying gifts went through the main gate to the front yard, while Chen Afu's mother and daughter and other female relatives entered through the corner gate and took sedan chairs to the inner yard.
They were led directly to the flower hall, where Mrs. Fu and her eldest daughter-in-law, Grandma Fu, were greeting guests.
When Chen Ahfu and her daughter walked in, it was impossible not to attract attention. They were so dazzling that many people stopped talking and looked at them.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the Fu family came forward with a smile. Mrs. Fu said with a smile, "Oh, Madam Chu is so lucky to be pregnant with twins at once."
A lady in her late twenties came over and said, "Madam Fu is a good matchmaker." She then smiled at Chen Afu and said, "Madam Chu, you don't know me yet. My surname is Qin, and my name is Qin Jian." Chen Afu had heard of Qin Jian. He was a fourth-rank city gate leader. He had a very good relationship with Chu Lingxuan and they were close friends.
Chen Ahfu quickly smiled and said, "It turns out to be Mrs. Qin. I often hear my uncle talk about General Qin."
When Mrs. Qin heard this, her smile deepened.
Then, several women praised Chu Hanyan again.
Chu Hanyan was a little scared, but with her mother beside her, she still politely greeted the elders.
Chen Afu was helped by Grandma Fu to pay his respects to Old Madam Fu who was sitting in the seat of honor. Old Madam Fu smiled and asked Chen Afu to sit down. She also called Miss Chu, who had been holding Chen Afu's hand, to her side and gave her a greeting.
Those who could sit next to Madam Fu were all older or of higher status. Chen Ahfu was not very old, but she was the wife of the son of the Marquis of Yong'an and the wife of a third-rank general. Her status here was not the highest, but it was not low either. She was also pregnant, so she had a seat.
Grandma Fu introduced the ladies here to her. There were the wives of the commanders and deputy generals who came from the capital, the wives of the generals and the lieutenant generals who came from the provincial capital, and so on. These were the families of military generals. There were also the wives of the governor of Shuntian Prefecture who came from the capital, the wives of the salt transport historian who came from the provincial capital, the wives of the prefect of Shizhou, and so on. These were the families of civil officials.
This is ancient times, unlike the past when there were cars that could take more than an hour to reach two or three hundred miles. Here, it takes a day's boat ride or nearly two days' carriage ride. So many ladies can come from afar, which shows how great the Fu family's reputation is.
They were all elders, at least in their thirties or forties, and two were even in their fifties. Chen Ahfu was the youngest and had the youngest generation, so he stood up and blessed them all.
These people also included Mrs. He, the wife of Deputy General He, and Jiang.
People like Mrs. Qin, who are not very old and whose husbands are not of high rank, would be tactful and sit aside or in the side room.
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